Editor’s note: The following “Trail Talk” column was published in the Aug. 25 edition of the Montecito Journal.
The story goes that someone at a reata roping event, held in early August in the remote northern California town of Alturas, was spreading the news that “Bruce Sandifer just fell off his horse.” But Bill Black, who was cowboss at the MC Ranch in Oregon when Sandifer worked at the 10,000-head outfit, said, “No. Something else must have happened, because Bruce Sandifer doesn’t fall off horses.”
Bill Black was right. Those familiar with Bruce, who lives in Montecito but whose good reputation extends throughout the Santa Ynez Valley, the western United States and even to Europe, know he is a superb horseman, and one of the finest practioners of classic Californio-style riding. Brought to California by Spanish vaqueros, the style was honed to a fine art by horsemen who literally spent years developing bridle horses, progressing from the bitless hackamore to the two-rein to the Spanish spade bit.
So what happened to Bruce? From a series of photographs taken right up to and including the moment when he suffered a badly broken pelvis, he was having an excellent performance on his gelding Montana’s Half Moon, affectionately known as Moonie for the white crescent moon on his forehead.
“We were galloping down the rail chasing the cow, and when we put on the brakes I felt it go,” recounts Bruce. Moonie hadn’t tripped and Bruce hadn’t hit the saddle horn, so the doctors’ best guess is that some underlying problem may have made him an accident waiting to happen. Apparently the force of the stop caused the pelvis bone to break, with devastating results. Bruce was initially taken to a small hospital in Alturas, but as the doctors there feared internal injuries, he was soon flown to Reno. Two days later, Bruce underwent a five-hour surgery, during which a metal plate and two pins were installed to hold him together.
The bad news is that Bruce doesn’t have any health insurance and is now facing enormous medical bills, not to mention loss of income while he is confined to a wheelchair for the next six months. His wife Ute Sandifer is doing double duty, taking care of both Bruce and their horses, and Ute’s mother Sina Hagemann is also sharing much of the load. Fortunately, Bruce has kept his sense of humor in spite of the grim circumstances.
“I wish they would have lipo-suctioned me while they were in there,” Bruce jokes. “I asked them if they engraved the plate they put in me, but they didn’t do that either!”
Bruce Sandifer doesn’t seem the type to be spending time in a wheelchair. His six feet, four inches in height grows closer to 6 feet 8 inches, if you figure in cowboy boots and his signature flat-brimmed hat, a traditional vaquero style. Now 47, he still sports the wide shoulders of a defensive end, which was his position when he entered Washington State University on a football scholarship many years ago. With his leather chinks, rowel spurs and thick mustache, Bruce is the epitome of a real cowboy and someone who stands out everywhere he goes.
Friends rally for a fundraiser
A group of Bruce’s friends have spontaneously come together to put on a fundraiser to help Bruce and his family through this tough time. Initially the idea of Anthony Borgatello, who served as 2009 El Presidente of Old Spanish Days, the event took off when award-winning cowboy singer Dave Stamey offered his talents for a live concert. The “committee” has been working fast, as Stamey’s busy concert schedule only allowed for an opening on Saturday, Sept 4. Joining Anthony at early morning breakfast meetings have been his wife Betty Borgatello, local equestrienne Mary Jo England, Santa Barbara Humane Society president Allen Gaines, Graham Goodfield of Los Padres Outfitters, traditional bit and spur maker Bruce Haener who has been driving down from his home in Templeton, Summerland filmmakers Susan Jensen and Paul Singer, columnist Lynn Kirst, owner of a Sandifer bred-and-trained bridle horse, radio marketing wizard Bruce Pollack, Jeff Stone, active member of both Santa Barbara Trail Riders and Rancheros Visitadores, and Montecito Library and Howard School board member Elizabeth Zahm. Many of the above-mentioned committee members have spent hours in the saddle learning Californio-style horsemanship from Bruce.The Santa Ynez Historical Museum has donated the venue, and retired judge Thom Bateman will serve as auctioneer. Dozens of items for the silent and live auction have been pouring in from Bruce’s friends all over the West, and include artwork, silver jewelry, a handmade quilt, braided romal reins and leather tack of all kinds. The highlight of the live auction will be a 4-year-old cutting horse mare of champion Quarter Horse bloodlines, with 60 days of training on her donated by Jay Harney.
Mark your calendar
Saturday, Sept. 4
“Cowboy Up for Bruce Sandifer”
Benefit Concert by Dave Stamey
Santa Ynez Historical Museum
3596 Sagunto Street, Santa Ynez
$75 per person includes dinner
The community is invited to attend this fundraiser to help offset Bruce Sandifer’s medical expenses. “Happy Hour” begins at 5 p.m. with a no-host bar, followed by a barbecue dinner of cowboy cuisine served by Los Padres Outfitters. Silent and live auctions will be followed by a concert featuring award-winning cowboy singer Dave Stamey in the Carriage Barn at the Santa Ynez Historical Museum, itself a worthwhile attraction. Space is limited and the event is expected to sell out, so call 886-2747 to put your name on the reservation list. Payments will be accepted by credit card over the telephone, or you may send a check to the account that has been established for this fundraiser, payable to: “Bruce Sandifer Fund,” 315 Meigs Road, Box A-656, Santa Barbara, CA 93109. Donations are gratefully being accepted in any amount from those who are unable to attend.